Art traditions here are a combination of native Caribbean influences as well as African origins. Many of the motifs are centered around island life. As far as handicrafts go, you’ll find weaving (mainly as rug weaving) and making batiks (a way of dying cloth using wax to resist certain colors). Wood carvings and sculptures are also common as well as leather work.
Pottery serves more practical purposes with holding water and
other objects as well as being used for cooking and storing food. You’ll find pottery
pieces made out of red clay but sometimes people use colorful glazes on it,
decorating it with local designs.
Paintings are also popular on Saint Kitts & Nevis. With
such beautiful landscape and seascape, the scenery is an obvious source of
themes. However, island life and local culture and folklore are also common
themes for paintings. One cultural item that makes its way into their art is
that of clowns. No, I’m not talking about Pennywise-like clowns, or even Ronald
McDonald. They’re called Moko-Jumbies, inspired from West Africa; they’re
essentially stilt walkers dressed up in clown garb. Some are just colorful, but
some are downright creepy-looking giants. It's a colorful experience to say the least.
Although there is no shortage of writing talent in Saint
Kitts & Nevis, there is also a clear lack of access to training and
publishers. Most authors start out self-publishing their works, unless they are
lucky enough to get picked up by a major publisher elsewhere. Literary works as
we know it today didn’t truly get its start until the 20th century,
although there certainly have been stories passed down through the generations.
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| Caryl Phillips |
One of the most famous authors of note from the islands is
Caryl Phillips. His plays, short stories, novels, and essays made international
fame starting in the 1980s. His themes center around immigration and returning
to your homeland.
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| Carol Ottley-Mitchell |
Another author of note is Carol Ottley-Mitchell. She has
written numerous children’s stories that range from infant books to young adult
lit. Other authors from Saint Kitts & Nevis include Charles Wilkin, who
writes about the national political atmosphere, and Jewel Amethyst, who is a
romance author that falls in a multi-cultural subgenre.
I think literature holds a certain regard here. Some people
have formed reading groups together, but it’s nothing formal or broadly
organized. Theatre is also popular on both islands. A couple of theatre
organizations are established here as well, but mostly of an amateur, community
level.
Up next: music and dance
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